From Fear to Love

Focus Statement

As God’s love rises in our hearts like the dawn,

it illuminates our fears and casts them out,

empowering us to radiate that same transformative love to others.

Point of Relation

Okay, friends, we are going to continue to use our imaginations,

just as we did last week.

Close you eyes again…

This time imagine a person walking through a dense forest at night.

As darkness surrounds them,

every shadow seems threatening,

every sound ominous.

Fear grips their heart.

But as dawn breaks, the first rays of sunlight begin to filter through the trees.

With each passing moment,

the light grows stronger, revealing the true nature of their surroundings.

What once seemed like menacing shapes

are now clearly seen as harmless trees and bushes.

The sounds that caused alarm

are revealed to be the gentle rustling of leaves and chirping of birds.

As the sun fully rises, bathing the forest in warm, golden light,

fear dissipates completely,

replaced by a sense of peace and wonder at the beauty around them.

You can now open your eyes.

Things to Consider

As we approach Christmas,

reflect on how God’s love, revealed in Jesus,

transforms our understanding of both God and ourselves.

How might this love change the way you view those around you?

Consider the fears that hold you back from fully embracing or sharing this love.

Remember, perfect love casts out fear.

How can you open your heart to receive and reflect God’s love more fully in this final week of Advent?

What Scripture Says

As dawn breaks, the sun’s warmth dispels night’s chill,

mirroring how God’s love drives out fear in 1 John 4:7-19.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear,” John writes (v. 18).

This echoes Paul’s famous discourse on love in 1 Corinthians 13,

where he describes love’s enduring nature.

John emphasizes that “God is love” (v. 16),

a truth as transformative as daybreak.

This love, as Paul explains, is patient and kind, not envious or boastful.

It’s as tangible and life-giving as sunlight,

never failing even when obscured by life’s clouds.

As the sun reaches its zenith, its presence envelops us.

Similarly, “God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:12).

This omnipresent love,

which Paul calls the greatest of all virtues,

leaves no place for fear.

John connects this all-encompassing love to Jesus’ coming:

“This is how God showed his love among us:

He sent his one and only Son into the world” (v. 9).

Like the sun bringing color to the world,

Jesus reveals the full spectrum of God’s love,

embodying the love that Paul describes as

not self-seeking and keeping no record of wrongs.

In this divine light, we’re called to “love one another” (1 John 4:7),

reflecting God’s love like the earth reflects the sun’s warmth.

As we embrace this love that “never fails” (1 Cor 13:8),

it indeed casts out all fear,

bringing the peace and joy we seek this Advent.

What This Means for You

As we bask in the warmth of God’s love,

consider how it illuminates your life.

Where do shadows of fear still linger?

Remember, just as the sun’s rays reach every corner,

God’s love permeates every part of you.

This week, challenge yourself to reflect this love in twenty different ways.

It could be a kind word, a helping hand, or a moment of patience.

As you practice love, notice how it dispels your fears and brings light to others.

How might embracing God’s perfect love transform your relationships, even with those you find difficult?

What This Means for Us

As a community basking in God’s love,

we have the power to dispel fear collectively.

Friends, our church is a beacon, radiating warmth and light to all around us.

How can we widen our circle of comfort,

extending divine love to those perceived as different?

This Advent, let’s challenge ourselves to choose love over fear in our interactions, our decisions, and our outreach.

By participating in our church’s ongoing mission and ministries,

we can tangibly show God’s love to others.

Together, we can create a community where love triumphs, fears fade,

and everyone feels the warmth of God’s embrace. Amen? Amen.

Written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI, based on a series developed by GNJUMC’s Breakthrough: https://breakthroughseries.org/.